Same Sentiment, Different Demagog

Before I begin, I must confess that I didn’t watch the State of the Union last night. Frankly the thought of sitting through another self-servicing gratuitous evening speech made my pizza dinner want to make a spectacular return. However, what I do in this company is political science, so to remain silent is not an option.
If I had been employed by someone else it would have been required that I at least watch the dreaded event, if unable to physical attend it fortunately for me that’s not the case. I’m a highly ethical person, though, so in order to give an accurate rebuttal I did have to familiarize myself with the speech somewhat. So to remedy this I watched the highlights on the Wall Street Journal channel of my Roku – it featured the parts when he admired that in this country any one could be anything if they worked for it, giving special notice to his colleague Speaker John Boehner; then the officer who had been injured in the line of duty. How moving, maybe I was wrong about the president and maybe I will start cutting him some slack. Don’t count on it though, from the comments of others who did watch the event it was nothing new. He griped about income inequality, immigration reform (which I do think we need, but not the kind up for discussion), and how he was stuck with a not-doing-a-damn-thing congress. He also apparently continued with his “magic pen” soliloquy, threatening that congress better play ball, or else. Or else what? What can he do to them if they don’t? – Nothing, this is not a real threat with real consequences and all he is calling for is going to hurt the population.
It sounds like the same old rhetoric from the past with the exception that he’s running out of things to mettle with. He hasn’t learned from his errors of judgment or even admitted them. A more refreshing and honest speech would have gone like:
“My fellow Americans, I release this out of character for a politician and might be arguably tantamount to political suicide, but since this is my term in office as president, that matters little. Even if that wasn’t the case I see that my course actions have caused detrimental harm to the office, the Democratic party, but more important the nation.
“Starting with my signature legislature, the Affordable Care and Protection Act, the millions who have lost their insurance is on me. The many countless others who have suffered the unintended consequences in the economy because of it, that too falls on the leader of the nation. While I will not make abortion illegal I can discourage it by cutting federal funding for it, making the individual responsible for paying for it, or finding an insurance company who will cover it.
“If not for my actions young men, like the one in the stands who will have to life with the consequences of ‘Nation Building’ is on me as well. I could have changed course, from those of my predecessors, and actually promote peace as I advocated as senator.
“My federal ‘Go Green’ environmental efforts and healthy lifestyles initiatives have gone too far, with very little substantial evidence to support such reactionary, expensive and intrusive actions. Letting the free market come up with the answers, unhindered by pointless and inefficient restrictions has set back the progress we all yearned for. I will curtail only the most modest and proven efficient restrictions.
“I rein in my social welfare programs and institute a system to follow up to see who needs really in need and who is scamming the system (authors note: With the advances of technology and the information I came across complete elimination of these programs would be the best conclusions, but for the sake of the discussion setting them up in a responsible manner would be a step in the right direction). The attitude of unrestrained spending on these programs has been a violation of the public trust, encouraged irresponsible actions within the government and encouraged dependency on the state. The minimum wage should not be expanded, but instead abolished. It’s effects on the economy and business, violates both the businessman rights to do business in their own way and the states’ rights. Immigration reform does need to be simplified, and the complaint that our current policies give negative incentives by offering illegal immigrants ‘freebies’ to come is valid. Changing the social welfare system so that abuses to it are minimized will affect those who illegal enter the country, natural born citizen or immigrants will no longer get a free ride on the backs of the taxpayers.
“Finally, the federal position on drugs has to change. I advocated abandoning the federal policies on drug enforcement as a senator, with the power before me – as president – I have not acted on my principles, I will now set policies that honor these promises. As with all the other issues mentioned, and others not mentioned, the best way to solve them is for the federal government is to isolate itself from the problem. As we proceed into the future, we must explore not only new technological advancements, but also advancements in political theories. As other countries have been abandoning authoritarian political constructs, this country pushing the failed agenda of more control. We should take heed of the changes toward a free market system that former socialist nations, and ask why are they making that change? No longer will I push for federal intervention with regards to; guns, abortion, marriage, drugs, immigration, health care or other issues that are the states’ or the individuals’ responsibility. I have learned that government’s place in all this, is on the sidelines.”
This is a speech that I don’t hold my breath about hearing anytime soon, but the candidate who does make such a speech is the kind that we need.
Like this article? – Read more about how federalism has failed us in my new book, UNConventional Wisdom: Methods of Behavior for the Modern Age.